BJP National Executive meeting tomorrow

After the political setback in Jharkhand, BJP will fine-tune its election strategy in poll-bound Bihar at its National Executive meeting beginning in Patna on Saturday.

The two-day meet will see the launch of the party's campaign in the key state where it is a major partner in the JD(U) led government.

Bihar is practically the first electoral challenge for the party since 53-year old Nitin Gadkari took over the reins.

With stakes high in Bihar, the party is expected to go all out against the Congress-led UPA at the Centre for its alleged step motherly treatment towards non-Congress states.

Two resolutions being passed in the executive are related to the governance of the UPA including one focussing on its performance in the last one year. Failure of the Centre to control rising prices and Naxalism would also figure in the resolutions.

"The top BJP leadership will minutely scrutinise the UPA government's performance in reference to its handling of terrorism and economy, Naxalite insurgency and the step motherly treatment meted to non-Congress, non-UPA governments in the states," party's spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The meet would also target the Congress over the Bhopal gas tragedy and the way Warren Anderson, the then CEO of Union Carbide escaped from the country.

A 'Rashtriya Swabhiman'(national pride) rally will be held at the conclusion of the meet which will be addressed by top party leaders signalling the launch of the Bihar campaign.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be a prominent speaker in the rally. This will be Modi's first visit to Bihar after becoming chief minister in October 2001.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had expressed reservations about Modi campaigning in the state in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Interestingly, Gujarat government has given advertisements in newspapers here pointing out how Muslims in Gujarat are better placed in terms of education, employment opportunities, financial stability, health facilities and infrastructure.

Though Modi has been the star campaigner of BJP in other states, the party here was less inclined to use him during the poll campaign.

The contentious issue of caste census on which BJP stands divided, is likely to come up for discussion at the meet. Party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi has already said that he would raise the issue at the national executive.The party is likely to set up a small group to go into the issue.